Big Brother Ben

Ben (6 yrs old now) had been praying just about every day for 2 babies and a dog for about two years!!!! He would even correct me if I just prayed for one.  :-)  This was a good lesson for him to learn about praying without ceasing.  We were thrilled to be able to tell him that he was going to be a big brother!  We gave him this shirt as our way of telling him the news and he wore it proudly.  We were actually considering getting him a puppy for Christmas....until we found out there were THREE!  We told him he was getting an extra baby instead of a dog.  God gave us even more than we asked for!

Ben has been a real trooper during this long stretch of bed rest.
We play lots of games together, and he even made up a couple of games to play where I don't have to get up off of the couch.  In this picture is his new game called "Dinosaur Race".  He drew the game board and everything.  You just roll the dice and move the dinosaurs accordingly...very cute!  His other game is called "Who's Missing".  It's a simple version of Hide and Seek where I don't have to get up.  I just call out and ask him if he's in certain places.  He doesn't answer until I guess correctly.  I think I like it better than the real version. :-)                               

Getting Close

A date has been set!  I have a c-section scheduled in Keene for Friday April 29th so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  :-)  I asked the doctor if he could just take them out yesterday at my appt. but he didn't think that was the best idea....it was worth a try.  My body is definitely exhausted and I'm feeling ready to be done, but I know that God's timing is perfect.  Everything still looked great at the appointment.  Babies were all active and no changes with me.  By the way, I still weigh less than Mark!  My friend Maureen took me to my appt. because I probably shouldn't be driving myself at this point.  Then we went out to lunch.  So, I kind of cheated on my bed rest for once, but it was so nice to be out...even though I get funny looks everywhere I go. :-)

34 Weeks

I had a great appointment today!  Here are the estimated weights: 
               Baby A - 4 lb. 10 oz.
               Baby B - 4 lb. 7 oz.
               Baby C - 4 lb. 8 oz.
The boys were very active during the ultrasound but our little girl seemed to be sleepy.  We had to take a break and then come back to her to get some movement in order for her to "pass"...she did!

After the ultrasound we went up to meet with the Doctor.  The first thing he said when he walked in was, "How can you still be pregnant?"  I told him it was because of a lot of people praying!  He read the ultrasound reports and was amazed at how well the babies were doing and how close in size they were.  He said he's happy when twins have a 10% difference in weight and our babies only have about a 5% difference.  He recommended that we schedule a C-section in Keene for when I reach 37 weeks.  He doesn't expect me to make it that far since 15 lbs. of baby is about the maximum the body can handle.  I will still deliver up at Dartmouth if it's earlier than 37 weeks.  So, we know these babies will be here sometime within the next 3 weeks!  It was a beautiful day for me to be able to be outside.  Sun was shining and the snow is almost gone!

Latest Appt. - April 5th

My Doctor appointment today went well!  There weren't really any changes.....except for the fact that I've gained weight. :-)  The babies all passed the biophysical profile again and are doing just fine.  They like to wiggle a lot during the non stress tests.  Mark and a friend got the cribs and changing table put together tonight and they're in the room now so we're feeling even more ready for the babies to arrive! 

Preparing for 3 Babies

In order to get ready for the triplets we had to renovate one of the bedrooms. The room was completely gutted, the layout changed slightly and then drywalled. There were many people that came over to help. Ben was even put to work!

We decided that Ben would move into that room and the triplets would take over his old room. After new paint and carpet in both rooms they are almost done with a few new features. Both rooms now have a laundry chute and the triplets room also has a diaper chute. We figured that with up to 30 diapers a day the diaper genie wasn't going to cut it. The diaper chute is a 6" PVC pipe that goes from the baby room on the second floor all the way to a garbage can in the basement.

Ben is very happy with his new room. He gets a kick out of the laundry chute and likes the new paint job a decorations. He said that he would let Mark move in if he wanted to!

When are the babies coming?

Everybody wants to know when the babies are coming.  So do we!  Here is what we do know.  The babies should be born sometime in April.  A normal pregnancy is about 40 weeks but the average for triplets is 31 weeks.  The doctors had said that they would be happy if I made it to 31 weeks and thrilled if I made it to 35 weeks.  Right now I am at 33 1/2 weeks- above average!  Until 34 weeks they would attempt to stop the contractions like they did a couple weeks ago.  After 34 weeks, if contractions started they would deliver the babies.  The plan is for the babies to be delivered by C-section.  They will not set a date at this point, but it sounds as though they will not let me go longer than 37 weeks.

I go to the doctor in Keene every Tuesday and Dartmouth every Thursday.  They monitor me and the babies closely.  If they noticed any negative changes in myself or the babies they would deliver them at this point as well.  The plan is for the babies to be delivered in Dartmouth, but if I am having contractions I will go to Keene first and they will take me to Dartmouth by ambulance.  At 37 weeks we could possibly deliver in Keene.

Stay tuned and we will keep you updated.

33 weeks

On March 31st we reached 33 weeks!  My doctor appt. on this day was very simple.  No ultrasound this time.  Blood pressure looks really good and the heartbeats are all strong.  Two days earlier, on the 29th, I went to the doctor in Keene, and they did an ultrasound to check their biophysical profile.  This is when they look at fluid levels, heart rates, and lungs.  All 3 passed!  We are very thankful that they are all doing so well!  I'm measuring as though I was 46 weeks pregnant with one baby!  At this point we go to the doctors twice a week.  Keene on Tuesdays and Dartmouth on Thursdays.  These are my big outings of this week since I've been put on bed rest.  It's nice to get out and get fresh air!

We are also feeling much more ready at home.  Mark has been working hard and the diaper chute is finished!  Now we need to get the furniture in the babies' room and we'll feel ready....as ready as you can be for 3 babies!